Fenzy-less Free Agency
In past years, the free agent signing period has been characterized by great players getting ceiling-breaking contracts and decent players getting undeserved contracts. Think Carlos Silva getting 4 years, $48 million, Barry Zito getting $126 million over 7 years, and even Eric Gagne getting $10 mil over 1 year (somehow).
This years free agency period, however, is shaping up a little differently than in the past. Not because the best players will not be getting ceiling-breaking contracts---Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia will get the long-term, big-money deals we'd expect---but because those players that fall into the decent-to-good bracket are not getting the contracts received by their counterparts of years past.
Today the news came out that Rafael Furcal rejected a four year deal from the Athletics worth about $8-9 million a year. While Furcal is not coming off a tremendous season because of injuries, he is still the only decent shortstop available on the market.
Still, the A's were the only team offering a four year deal, but he had to reject it because it would have meant taking a 4 million dollar pay cut from a free agency contract. That was unheard of before this year (in the context of recent years) for a player of Furcal's caliber.
Other players like Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Pat Burrell are not being offered arbitration from their respective teams, because the Yankees, D'Backs, and Phillies were afraid the players would accept the deals offered to them.
Why would Adam Dunn accept a 1 year, $15 million arbitration offer in his free agent year? Because he knows that he would receive significantly less money in the free agent market, and he is willing to forgo the security of a multi-year contract for more money in 2009. Then he would become a free agent again in 2010, and from his perspective, hopefully the market will have reversed itself.
Personally, I do not see that happening. Players hitting their free agent year in 2010 will see much of the same compared to what is going on this year. Unfortunate, yes, for these players, but overall the sign of smarter front offices.
Well that and the economy, too.
This years free agency period, however, is shaping up a little differently than in the past. Not because the best players will not be getting ceiling-breaking contracts---Mark Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia will get the long-term, big-money deals we'd expect---but because those players that fall into the decent-to-good bracket are not getting the contracts received by their counterparts of years past.
Today the news came out that Rafael Furcal rejected a four year deal from the Athletics worth about $8-9 million a year. While Furcal is not coming off a tremendous season because of injuries, he is still the only decent shortstop available on the market.
Still, the A's were the only team offering a four year deal, but he had to reject it because it would have meant taking a 4 million dollar pay cut from a free agency contract. That was unheard of before this year (in the context of recent years) for a player of Furcal's caliber.
Other players like Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Pat Burrell are not being offered arbitration from their respective teams, because the Yankees, D'Backs, and Phillies were afraid the players would accept the deals offered to them.
Why would Adam Dunn accept a 1 year, $15 million arbitration offer in his free agent year? Because he knows that he would receive significantly less money in the free agent market, and he is willing to forgo the security of a multi-year contract for more money in 2009. Then he would become a free agent again in 2010, and from his perspective, hopefully the market will have reversed itself.
Personally, I do not see that happening. Players hitting their free agent year in 2010 will see much of the same compared to what is going on this year. Unfortunate, yes, for these players, but overall the sign of smarter front offices.
Well that and the economy, too.
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